The Beechwood Tigers and Owensboro Catholic Aces have lived up to the billing. It has been a collision course to the final four. The question was when and where. We have the answer. The Tigers will go on the road to Owensboro in the state semifinals, game time posted as 7:00 pm at Steele Stadium.

Both teams graduated star players from last year but have reloaded with new leading stars, including both starting QB's. The teams have identical 12-1 records. Both have been battle tested against tough schedules featuring higher class, well known opponents. Each team's loss was to a higher class team that is in the top 15 in the entire state. Both teams have multiple wins over higher class teams. Beechwood is the defending state champion and has been sitting at #1 in 2A the entire year. Owensboro Catholic was state runner up the last two seasons.

This game is a rematch of last year's state title game. In that game, Beechwood jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and controlled the game the rest of the way. The Aces got within one TD in the third quarter but Beechwood immediately pushed the lead back to two scores and pulled away from there, winning by a final score of 50-34. That game is the only time Beechwood and Owensboro Catholic have faced each other since 1999, when Beechwood beat Owensboro Catholic 16-0.

More on each team in later posts but let's leave it there to get us started. Can this version of the Aces close the gap and avenge last year's loss to the Tigers? 

The Aces will have to play perfect to keep this tight. They will probably need to win the turnover battle by a couple and will have to play a little keep away which is not really their style.

I have thought Beechwood was far and away the best team in 2A this year and I don’t see that changing. I will take Beechwood in this one 42-14

 

Thinking Beechwood’s secondary is elite and will hold OC’s passing game well below their norm.  

12 minutes ago, Oldercoach said:

Thinking Beechwood’s secondary is elite and will hold OC’s passing game well below their norm.  

That will be a big problem for the Aces because their WRs struggled to get open against Somerset and Beechwood is far more athletic in the secondary. 

Beechwood the great program, great team and they are a 2 TD favorite.  That said, playing at Steele, OCath will give their best effort.  Both teams are relentless but the OCath defense has to step up big to have a chance.  I’m rolling with my hometown Aces!  Get the monkey off the back!  Aces 21-20.

6 minutes ago, Brown said:

Beechwood the great program, great team and they are a 2 TD favorite.  That said, playing at Steele, OCath will give their best effort.  Both teams are relentless but the OCath defense has to step up big to have a chance.  I’m rolling with my hometown Aces!  Get the monkey off the back!  Aces 21-20.

Only one team has scored more than one TD against Beechwood this year. People focus on the offense, but the Beechwood defense has been fantastic this year.

19 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Only one team has scored more than one TD against Beechwood this year. People focus on the offense, but the Beechwood defense has been fantastic this year.

I’m probably not a voice of reason on this, but I’m rolling with the ACES…I’m wrong 1% of the time though.  I did call Corbin over Highlands so there’s that.

 

2 hours ago, Brown said:

I’m probably not a voice of reason on this, but I’m rolling with the ACES…I’m wrong 1% of the time though.  I did call Corbin over Highlands so there’s that.

 

You had me wondering till I pulled your prediction for last year's title game:

"I'll  say Aces 42-35."

@Voice of Reason that was a 1 in 100 error!!  

I think it's a tall test, but I'm pulling for the Aces after they beat my team.

How long of a bus ride will this be?

4 minutes ago, Bac2369 said:

How long of a bus ride will this be?

I used to drive to family in Burlington…seemed like 3 to 3.5 hours. Not sure how much further Beechwood is…is that fort Mitchell?

The only team in 2a that will come within 2 TD’s of Beechwood is Belfry. Beechwood rolls in this one. 

Beechwood 28-21.

Owensboro Catholic has the title of being a school that just can't seem to win the big one. Always a bridesmaid, never the bride! 

Here comes Beechwood to Steele Stadium, and once again, OC is a bridesmaid. I think Beechwood has too many athletes (remember that conversation from last year) and is just a superior football team.

There's always next year OC.